Picnic and Play

Zach and I took a long walk on this gorgeous day to the Zoo. We shared a picnic...we also had some fabulous conversations! Love, love , love listening to his thoughts, stories, imagination!!
We then made it over to the Pizza...fun! We made a little time for a visit with the Chimpanzees, Lemurs and Crocodiles!

Birthday Princess

Once a month Mady's school/class celebrates Birthday's for that month! During lunch each September Birthday child was called up on stage, Crowned and the entire cafeteria sang to them!!
She wore her purple crown(she is in purple base...each kindergarten class is a special color) proudly ALL day! They also celebrated with PINKALICIOUS cupcakes we brought in afterwards!

My Birthday thoughts...

Just finish celebrating my 36th Birthday! It was a quiet one shared with the 3 most precious beings in my life! They made it absolutely momentous!

As, I laid my children down tonight I thought about my life. This recent move has been a difficult one for me, in the beginning I keep focusing on what I"used to have"! I quickly realized how unhealthy my attitude was to ME! And take the positive from this experience...appreciate what I have! It has brought "our" family closer! I have devoted my everything to reconnecting with the love of my life and my children! It has made me realize my friends (whom I miss more than words can say) and my family are the most important part of my life!!

Today, I thank God for every blessing in my life, be it big or small, happy or sad...it has made me who I am...I am Thankful for my family and friends who enrich my life! I am thankful for my health!

This year I will love a little more...find the good in everyday...treasure my life...and look forward to my next Birthday!!

"It is not the years in your life
but the life in your years that counts."
Adlai Stevenson

Mady's 6th Birthday Tea Party!

We celebrated Mady's 6th Birthday with a Tea Party! What a fantastic time we had! The girls all looked gorgeous...they made hats, dressed up, sipped tea(pink lemonade), ate, danced, laughed and played!! FUN, FUN, FUN!!!
Happy Birthday Mady!!!


Mady waiting for the guests

Visit with Great Grandpa Deline

Peters Grandfather was in D.C. for a one day trip with several other Veteran's! Peter took the kids down to the National Mall to see him...they enjoyed their short visit with Great Grandpa!

Mady's exciting day!!

Mady went on her FIRST field trip, lost her FIRST Tooth(literally), and had her FIRST visit from the Tooth fairy...all in one day!

Her class went to an Apple Farm today, while there they picked apples, saw baby pigs, went on a hayride, and had a picnic, and she lost her tooth!

The story was..."Momma, I bit an apple I had just picked...I thought...gosh that seed is so close...then I looked at my apple and my tooth was STUCK in it!!! One second it was there and the next it wasn't...it fell! Mrs. Hill and my friends all searched for my tooth...BUT...It was lost"!! "Momma will the tooth fairy still come?!" Yes Mady!!

Tonight we wrote a letter to the tooth fairy explaining why we didn't have the tooth...THEN this morning we found SHE DID COME!!! Fairy dust was all over Mady's Bedroom...and she left 2 silver dollars!!!!

What an exciting Day!!

...as I waited for Mady after school, Mrs. Hill came out to tell me the story of the lost tooth, I actually had to fight back tears...my little girls FIRST tooth was lost...I was so sad...some of the other Mom's looked at me like I was crazy... whats the big deal?, one said to me...O.K. so I am so not like other Moms...and GLAD... I was SAD!!! Hello People!!! It's my babies FIRST TOOTH...the first one that made that toothless gummy smile shine...and the first tooth to make her smile remind me she is growing up...too fast!! We don't have the tooth BUT we have a fabulous story...

Six years ago...

Six years ago today, I was blessed with the most amazing gift...My Mady! I fell in Love with this child the moment I found out I was pregnant, and my heart erupted with love when I meet this beautiful child God gave me!! I am so thankful to be her Mommy!

Our new Family September 24th 2002!

Mady at one day old, and today at 6 yrs old!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Madyson!!!!!

Our Weekend

Saturday....We took a very long walk around this beautiful city(6 miles...WOW)! We walked over to Arlington, watched the planes take off at Reagan National Airport, saw trains crossing over bridges, made our way over to Georgetown where we took a break and had a delicious lunch at Dean and Deluca(yes... we love this place...Peter had a Tuscan Chicken Sandwich, Me...Sushi, Mady Five cheese Mac-n-cheese, Zach chicken tenders and fruit salad...so YUMMO! we sat, ate, and listened to the live Jazz music)! Then headed back...and chilled out at home together!!

Sunday...today we woke up and after breakfast we headed out to Rock Creek park(a beautiful Park that winds through Washington D.C.)! We live minutes from the park so decided to walk to the Zoo through the Park. It was a beautiful day...a little warmer than normal this time of year! At the Zoo, we enjoyed watching the Orangutan's walk the ropes, had fun in the Panda House, and enjoyed the Hispanic Heritage Festival...Yummy food and great music!

It was a fun weekend! ...with the exception of the kids complaining the entire 3 miles home from the Zoo!!!!

Rock Creek Park

The Human Brain!

Mady and Zach's favorite part of the Panda House...The Panda Poop!

Hockey

GOAL!!!!!!!!!
Mady made a goal...check out the look on Zach's face!

Last Sunday Peter and the kids went to Modell's to get Zachary the shin guards he needed for soccer. They came home with freaking roller skates! WHAT!!! O.K. When Mommy buys the kids toys, games, etc... I purchase things they can play with and mostly entertain themselves with... NOT DADDY!!! If it is sports related...and they want it...it's theirs...! "Babe...it will help Zach learn to skate so he can play Hockey" Peter explains to me after questioning his purchase?????

O.K.!!! NEVER mind the fact neither one of them have ever been on SKATES!!!

So...This entire week I have had a blast playing "Hockey" with the kids on the front porch every evening! I am so proud of Mady and Zach!!! For NEVER having been on Roller skates they have done fabulous!!! I will say it was a little rough in the beginning...but they have truly impressed me with their effort and skill! Daddy has been in NYC this week,(and since we are no longer used to him traveling and have missed him so very much) we can't wait to show him how we have mastered skating and playing Hockey tomorrow!!